Status of Some Basic Antioxidants in Pre- and Postmalaria Treatment in Children

Abstract

Malaria is the most common tropical disease to which infants and children are the most susceptible. It is caused by Plasmodium species and is associated with oxidative stress, which has an effect on body antioxidants. The relationship between the degree of parasitemia and copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and uric acid was evaluated in this study.

Seventy children (mean age: 7.80 ± 0.38 years) microscopically diagnosed positive for malaria parasite were selected. Fifty-six apparently healthy children (mean age: 6.68 ± 0.48 years) served as the control group. The malaria group was classified into pretreatment and posttreatment groups. The pretreatment group was also subgrouped based on parasitemia into four as follows: group A, group B, group C, and group D. Serum Cu and Zn were studied. Uric acid, an abundant endogenous metabolic antioxidant, was also determined.

The serum levels of Cu and Zn were significantly lower in pretreatment malaria patients compared with control. Uric acid level was slightly raised in the malaria patients but not significant (p > 0.05). In the posttreatment malaria patient group, serum uric acid and Cu levels were significantly raised compared with control (p = 0.008). Also, serum Cu and uric acid were significantly higher in the malaria posttreatment compared with the pretreatment group. Serum Zn level though higher in the posttreatment group compared with the pretreatment group was not significantly different (p > 0.05). The result showed a negative correlation between serum Cu level and parasitemia, and serum Zn level and parasitemia while that of uric acid and parasitemia was positively correlated but none of these were significantly correlated with parasitemia.

The observed changes in Cu, Zn, and uric acid levels in this study could be a reflection of progressive upregulation of the antioxidant system to combat the associated oxidative stress in this condition.

Keywords

antioxidant - children - free radicals - malaria parasitemia - oxidative stress

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